Hmmm...I didn't pre wash, of course, but I don't think they shrank so much that they were a totally different size after washing. I cut 6 1/2 inch squares sewn with 1/2 inch seams on the small blankets, 8 1/2 inch with 3/4 inch seams on the Colts one and 10 1/2 inch with 1 inch seams on the Patriots one. You can really control the length and width with the size of squares and seam allowances.

!! I say Reinforce all the seams!! And back stitch the beginnings and ends of everything.

They can become quite heavy and you don't want the seams to "pop" when shaking the loose threads off. (I had this happen once and you can't fix them once they've been clipped and washed)
The edge is zig zag stitched however far in you made your seam allowance and clipped all the way around just like the rest although some people bind theirs in the traditional manner.

I also used a Walking Foot. When you pin your rows together, lay top seams facing left and bottom facing right...you dont want them laying on top of eachother or you'll be sewing through like 10 layers of fabric :lol:

I also switched to a 16 needle when sewing the rows together and then back to a 14 for the zig zag edge.
sorry for the "windy" post

[quote=dltaylor]a quilt is a quilt is a quilt!! Well in my opinion anyway. Doesn't matter if it is hand sewn, machine or rag...]


Nice job, I agree totally, nice quilts

:thumbup:

Wasn't "windy"...was just what I asked for and....THANKS !!

You did a nice job on your rag quilts! Who's to say they aren't "real" quilts? Quilts are made to be used and these definetly will be used by the person you made them for.

Of course it's a quilt, why wouldn't it be. Love em.

I like your rag quilts... looks like they were fun to make... thanks for sharing.

Those are all well-planned REAL quilts and pretty to boot.

"The edge is zig zag stitched however far in you made your seam allowance and clipped all the way around just like the rest although some people bind theirs in the traditional manner. "

Can you please clarify this for me? Did you sew a straight stitch and then a zig zag to reinforce or did you just use the zig zag to create your seam allowance? The zig zag stitch would add some additional interest to the piece.

Not only do those quilts look real,they look real good.

I personally just finished with a zig zag around the quilt before I began clipping the seams, although if you wanted, you could reinforce with a straight stitch first. The inner seams, especially the ones where you are attaching row to row are the ones that really need reinforcing.
I just reinforced by straight stitching each seam twice. The edge is the only place where I used a zig zag. Hope that makes sense.